How to Care for a Narcissus Tazetta

Narcissus tazetta is perfect for gardens in warm climates.

Unlike other daffodils, Narcissus tazetta -- also known simply as narcissus -- does not need chilling to bloom well and is, therefore, perfect for gardens in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 11. Like other plants in the genus, they often need little to no care to grow well and bloom for years. With some attention, though, your narcissus will flourish and put on a spectacular display for up to 100 days in early to mid winter, depending on the weather.

1

Grow narcissus in full sun so the flowers and foliage receive at east six hours of sunlight a day, preferably in the morning with afternoon shade. If trees or shrubs are blocking the proper amount of sunlight from reaching narcissus, prune them as necessary.

2

Water narcissus from fall until spring while it is actively growing and when rain is insufficient. Keep the soil moist by watering it with 1 inch of water when the soil is dry to the touch 2 to 3 inches deep.

3

Feed narcissus with a bulb fertilizer or an all-purpose fertilizer after they finish blooming and the flowers have faded. Sprinkle the fertilizer around the foliage and, because nutrient rates differ among fertilizers, use the recommended rate as stated on the package label. Repeat every two weeks for two months for a total of four feedings; however, do not fertilize after the foliage turns yellow.

4

Remove flower stems at the base of the plants with hand clippers after the flowers fade. This tidies up the garden and prevents the plants from using their energy to produce seeds. This enables narcissus to save the energy in their bulbs to help them produce prolific blooms again the next year.

5

Remove narcissus foliage after it yellows, typically in summer when the bulb goes dormant. Use pruning shears and snip the foliage to the ground. As long as a narcissus is green, it is still photosynthesizing sunlight into energy, which is stored in the bulb for the next growing season, so do not prune early.

6

Divide narcissus if the clump is overgrown and produced fewer blooms than previous years. Do this after pruning the yellow foliage. Simply dig up the bulbs with a garden fork and break off the small bulb offsets from the main bulb with your hands. Replant firm bulbs immediately and discard soft ones. Narcissus bulbs are planted with their bases 5 inches deep and spaced 1 to 3 inches apart.

Tip

One of the most common Narcissus tazetta is the plant commonly called paperwhite, which is often forced to bloom indoors in winter, especially in cooler climates.

About the Author

Melissa Lewis is a former elementary classroom teacher and media specialist. She has also written for various online publications. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.